152 now WE SLEPT LURING BAD WEATHER. 
half the watch that are on deck — was sent below to pass 
up the water, while the others helped the carpenter to 
batten down the otfendiug hatches. 
‘‘While the men were thus baling, while the old ship 
rolled horribly, and while I ■was turning over my mattress 
in the partially-successful search for a drj spot upon which 
to coil myself away for the next two hours, — while all of 
this was going on, I heard a knock at my state-room door, 
and then the voice of the quartermaster of the watch : — 
“ ‘ Mr. Habersham !* 
“‘Well?’ 
“ ‘The cap’n wants you, sir.’ 
“ ‘ The mischief he does ! How many bells is it?’ 
“‘Gone four, sir!’ 
‘“Very well ! Any thing wrong?’ 
“ ‘No, sir! Only it’s a-blowin’ a livin’ gale, and she’s 
mighty uncomfortable. The cap’n wants you in the 
cabin with Mr. Russell and the master : they’re all over 
the chart now.’ 
‘“All right!’ I exclaimed; but I buttoned up my 
monkey-jacket over a vast deal of disgust and dissatis- 
faction as I stepped down into the half knee-deep ■water, 
and made my way aft through a confused mass of broken 
chairs, floating spittoons, and baling men, I never felt 
so out -with the sea, so great a longing to quit it for a 
shore-pi’ofession, as I did during that groping walk; and, 
as I put my hand upon the cabin-door, my mind was 
pretty well made upniever again to engage in a surveying 
and exploring expedition around the world. 
“‘Sorry to disturb you, Mr. II ,’ said the captain, 
as I opened the door and took off my cap; ‘but the truth 
